The six things you need to say at your Mummy Makeover consultation

When it comes to cosmetic surgery procedures, some people are more scared of the consultation session – the initial meeting with the practitioner where a plan of action within your budget is decided upon – than the actual procedure itself. It’s kind of understandable: some people still feel a little bashful about openly discussing the appearance they want, and can be terrified that they’ll be told their desires are unreasonable.

However, the key to a successful consultation is to treat it like a job interview, with you as the boss and the surgeon as a potential employee. The onus is on them to demonstrate that they’re up to the job, although they’ll be the first to point out whether what you’re after is impossible of unhealthy in the long run. Here’s what you need to say to ensure your journey towards the appearance you want gets off to the best possible start…

“Show me your credentials!”

This is absolutely vital. Just like every other surgical patient, you have the right to know who you’re about to entrust yourself to. Start by asking which boards they are members of – it’ll most probably be the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) or the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS). Don’t stop there, though: make sure you see Before and After photos of previous clients who have had the surgery you want.

“How many of these have you done this month? This year?”

An obvious reason for this: different surgeons specialise in different procedures, and when given the choice between two different practitioners with the same credentials and level of skill, it makes sense to go for the one who has performed the procedure the most times.

“Are you sure I’m fit enough for this?”

If you’re not, you’ll be told – no legitimate practitioner would dare take a risk on someone who is prone to post-procedure complications. If you’re in general good health, and you’re not after anything unreasonably unrealistic, you’ll be fine. But be prepared to be asked if you’ve finished breastfeeding, and you’re intending not to undergo another pregnancy

“But what about (insert part of the torso you hate)?”

The tummy tuck is geared solely towards the improvement of the abdominal muscles and the saggy skin around it. What a standard tummy tuck won’t do is get rid of your love handles. So if you want other areas addressing – usually with lipo – make sure you state your desires upfront so the procedure can be tailored to your exact needs.

“What happens afterwards?”

This is vital. There will be a period of recovery time that you will have to factor in, and you need to know exactly what will happen when the job is done, and what you should and should not do while you’re undergoing it. In short, you need to know what is going to happen during the post-procedure period – and even more importantly, what shouldn’t be happening.

“What should do I do if something goes wrong?”

Tummy tucks are a safe and effective undertaking, but it’s still surgery. So you’ll need to know what to do if anything goes amiss, and who to contact if you need help.